Trump may be falling into Kim Jong Un's trap by engaging in nuclear threats while South Korea prepares talks

President Donald Trump tweeted on Thursday morning that his hard line on North Korea helped open up communications between Seoul and Pyongyang.
Trump recently taunted Kim Jong Un with nuclear annihilation.
The war of words may see both Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae In may be falling into a clever trap from North Korea.

President Donald Trump seemed to reverse his stance on diplomacy with North Korea, and at the same time double down on his threats of nuclear annihilation in tweets early on Thursday morning.

"With all of the failed 'experts' weighing in, does anybody really believe that talks and dialogue would be going on between North and South Korea right now if I wasn’t firm, strong and willing to commit our total “might” against the North. Fools, but talks are a good thing!" Trump tweeted.

Trump caused massive backlash among political pundits who found his most recent exchange with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un frightening and destabilizing.

The exchange consisted of Kim Jong Un delivering a New Years address in which he said the "nuclear button" was always on his desk.

Trump responded by mocking Kim and his "" and saying his nuclear button was a "

Trump is not known to shy away from good publicity, and his Thursday morning tweets may have tried to indulge in that habit.

Though Trump has previously undercut his own Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, by saying talks with North Korea were a waste of time, and the White House hastily backpedaled after Tillerson said the US would be willing to talk to Pyongyang without preconditions, Trump on Thursday said "talks are a good thing!"

But Trump has several times changed course on North Korea. In May, Trump said he would be "honored" to talk to Kim. Months later, at the UN General Assembly, he threatened to totally destroy the country.

For now, prospective talks between South and North Korea appear limited to the upcoming Winter Olympics, and not seem to have limited connection to Trump's "maximum pressure campaign" against Pyongyang.

But until the talks materialize further, it remains clear that Trump will confront North Korea either verbally or with nuclear weapons if need be, and that he won't be passed over for good press when something goes his way.

Trump may be falling into Kim Jong Un's trap by engaging in nuclear threats while South Korea prepares talks

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!